How a Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help After a DWI Arrest in Atascosa County

 Posted on May 16, 2019 in DWI

A DWI conviction in Texas can severely impact your life, including your ability to get the job you want and secure financial loans. Even a first-time DWI leaves a significant stain upon your criminal record, along with the potential for up to six months in jail, a two-year driver’s license suspension, $2,000 in fines, and more. Possible penalties escalate substantially if you are arrested for multiple DWIs.

Regardless of your criminal history, you have rights under Texas and federal law. If you believe the police violated your rights, an experienced criminal defense attorney can conduct a full investigation of your case to find out for sure. They can also determine if law enforcement officers failed in any of their other duties during your arrest.

Here are some of the elements a skilled lawyer will assess when crafting a defense strategy to achieve the best possible result in your DWI case:

Unlawful Traffic Stop

A police officer cannot pull you over without justification. That does not include being at the “wrong place at the wrong time,” like leaving a bar late at night. Officers often target drivers who have not committed a moving violation and follow them until the slightest mistake occurs. This is not a lawful procedure.

Unreasonable Field Sobriety Testing

While standardized field sobriety tests can identify signs of intoxication, they are not infallible, and they can be an unfair method of detection for individuals with significant injuries and disabilities. They can also be proven invalid if road or weather conditions impact a person’s ability to successfully complete the tests.

Texas 15-minute Waiting Period

Police must monitor you for at least 15 minutes prior to administering a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) test. This is to ensure there is no residual alcohol in a suspect’s mouth at the time of the test. Failure to adhere to this can be grounds for dismissal.

Contact a Pleasanton DUI Lawyer

At BRCK Criminal Defense Attorneys, we fight for the rights and futures of those charged with DWI, including those whose arrest resulted from improper police activity. We will examine all evidence related to your case, including squad car and police station video, and your arrest report. We will also assess the legitimacy of your field sobriety and BAC testing. For help, and aggressive legal representation in your DWI case, contact a 24/7 Jourdanton criminal defense attorney today at 830-769-1010. 

Sources:

https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/rights-police-stops.pdf

https://www.nbc29.com/story/23957865/passing-a-field-sobriety-test-difficult-drunk-or-sober

https://www.dps.texas.gov/CrimeLaboratory/documents/BATOperatorManualRvsd.pdf